Israeli Airstrike Targets Hamas Leader Mohammed Sinwar in Khan Younis; Fate Uncertain

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 | Israel has carried out precision airstrikes on a hospital in Khan Younis, in a targeted attempt to assassinate Mohammed Sinwar, assumed to be the most senior Hamas leader in Gaza, after Yahya Sinwar, his brother, was killed by the IDF in October 2024. 

Israel’s decision to target Mohammed Sinwar reportedly sprang from an intelligence-driven “sudden opportunity” that left no time to inform the US. The attack hit a Hamas command center beneath the European Hospital, leaving a question as to whether Sinwar survived. The IAF reportedly used bunker-buster bombs in the attack similar to the munitions used in the strike that killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on September 27, 2024.  

The IDF notified staff to evacuate patients prior to the attack. Despite being forewarned, Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 16 people died and 70 others were wounded. The World Health Organization condemned the attack, stating, “Hospitals must be sanctuaries, not battlegrounds.” Israel defended the strike, stating that it was targeting a Hamas command center beneath the hospital. The IDF military accused Hamas of continuing to exploit medical facilities in the Gaza Strip for terrorist purposes, calling it “a cynical and brutal use of the civilian population in the hospital and its surroundings.” 

In a statement describing the attack on the hospital, the IDF said that multiple measures were taken before and during the strike to minimize harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure. “The IDF and Shin Bet [Israeli internal security] will continue to operate to remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the statement said. 

The operation’s timing coincided with an Israeli delegation arriving in Qatar led by Shin Bet’s “M” and Brigadier General Gal Hirsch (Res.), Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons. There is speculation about the potential impact that Sinwar’s killing may have on stalled hostage and ceasefire negotiations. An Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post “[Mohammed] Sinwar was the most extreme figure in terms of negotiation positions for reaching a deal.” If he is out of the picture, it should ease the efforts to reach an agreement." Sinwar, who assumed leadership of Hamas’s military wing after Mohammed Deif’s assassination and broader control following Yahya’s death, was known for his hardline stance. It is reported that Sinwar often rejected concessions in negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt and that his rigid position hindered progress on obtaining the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. 

It appears to be a matter of debate if Sinwar’s death may shift power to Hamas’s external leadership, based in Qatar and Turkey, and away from Gaza. This leadership transition could create a new window for progress, though experts also warn that Hamas’s fragmented structure may complicate decision-making. 

Confirming Sinwar’s death remains a significant hurdle. The strike hit a heavily fortified command unit beneath the hospital and will require extensive and time-consuming forensic analysis. Israel is sifting through the rubble, as well as attempting to gather intelligence and intercept Hamas communications that may shed light on Sinwar’s fate. The process could take days or even weeks due to the depth of the Hamas command center and the intensity of the strike that involved 6 or more bunker-penetrating bombs.